From “King of Raï” to “King of Spies”? Cheb Khaled Accused of Espionage in Bizarre Algerian Case
The Algerian music scene is no stranger to controversy, but even seasoned observers were left scratching their heads at the recent accusations leveled against music icon Cheb Khaled. The Algerian opposition website “Algérie Part” reported on October 19th that a military court in Blida is investigating the singer for espionage, alleging he was working for Morocco.
The news, which broke on October 18th, sent shockwaves through the region. Khaled, known for his international hit “Aïcha,” is accused of collaborating with the Benaïssa brothers, sons of the late General Arab Benaïssa, to leak classified information to Moroccan authorities.
The evidence? Photographs of Khaled with the accused.
The absurdity of the situation hasn’t been lost on social media users in both Algeria and Morocco. Many have taken to platforms like Twitter and Facebook to express their disbelief and mock the accusations. Abdou Semmar, an exiled Algerian journalist based in France, posted a video on YouTube ridiculing the Algerian government’s actions. He pointed out the irony of targeting Khaled, who hasn’t even set foot in Algeria since 2018.
“The Teboune regime wants to imprison everyone,” Semmar quipped, referring to Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. “The only one left is Cheb Khaled, the King of Raï!”
The case has sparked a wave of satirical commentary online. One popular post joked that the military court was transforming Khaled from the “King of Raï” into the “King of Spies.” Others imagined the investigation report detailing how Khaled, surrounded by musicians named “Didi” and “Aïcha,” used his concerts as a front for leaking state secrets.
“Were his songs actually coded messages?” one user wondered. “Was the listening device hidden under the piano or inside the derbouka? Was the guitar itself a spying device?”
The case highlights the ongoing tensions between Algeria and Morocco, fueled by historical disputes and political maneuvering. The two North African nations have been locked in a bitter rivalry for decades, with the Western Sahara conflict serving as a major point of contention. The use of espionage accusations, often lacking credible evidence, has become a recurring theme in this complex geopolitical landscape.
While the outcome of the investigation remains uncertain, one thing is clear: the image of Cheb Khaled, the globally celebrated musician, entangled in a bizarre espionage case will be difficult to erase.
